Freezing temperatures, ice and snow can be a pain for us all; but it’s our homes and cars that could suffer the most in freezing temperatures. A few simple steps could end up saving you a lot of time and money this winter. Cold temperatures have arrived and we hope you’ll find a few of the following tips helpful.

Regarding your automobile:

Driving with properly inflated tires will produce the best traction, MPG, durability, and safety. Check your owner’s manual for the ideal PSI for your automobile. Keep in mind, this varies in colder months. The average tire pressure for cars should be between 32 and 35 pounds, and 40 to 60 for trucks.

Weather Watches and Warnings…. What’s the difference?

A WATCH means that the potential exists for the development of severe thunderstorms or tornadoes, depending upon the specific type of watch issued. In the case of a tornado watch, this DOES NOT mean that a tornado has been seen or even indicated on radar…it just means that conditions are favorable for the formation of tornadoes in thunderstorms. Similarly, a severe thunderstorm watch means that conditions are just conducive for the development of severe weather, and DOES NOT indicate that severe weather has been reported. While no immediate action on the part of the general public is required for the issuance of a watch, citizens should keep up to date on the current weather situation and be prepared to seek shelter if necessary.

A WARNING, on the other hand, requires more immediate action and should be taken seriously. A severe thunderstorm warning indicates that severe weather is imminent in your area or is already occurring (based on either human observation or doppler radar). The term severe refers to hail greater than or equal to 1.00″ in diameter and/or wind gusts that meet or exceed 58 mph. Although these storms can also be associated with dangerous cloud to ground lightning or heavy rainfall that is capable of causing flash flooding, neither of these two items serve as criteria for a severe thunderstorm warning being issued.

Take the weather with you on your mobile phone. Wherever you are, you can get the local weather forecast from the National Weather Service with one click on your home screen. Bookmark mobile.weather.gov to make sure that you have the latest weather news and information on the go. READ THE FULL POST HERE

Ummm…. How to “enjoy” Thanksgiving!? Yes! If you’ve ever hosted this holiday at your home…. you know what I’m talking about. We, at LeaderOne Financial, have the pleasure of helping many first time homebuyers purchase their first homes. Often, along with this rite of passage, comes the “honor” of hosting a major holiday gathering in your home. Also, for those who we’ve helped upgrade to their bigger dream homes, get ready to become the new hot spot for family gatherings! I’d like to offer this advice to those who have risen to the challenge of playing host:

Set the table the night before

I mean EVERYTHING! You can even place the empty serving dishes to strategically plan where everything will go when it’s time for the real deal. If you have children, give them the task of making place cards. 2 things will be accomplished here; the kids will be occupied for a couple of hours AND you can avoid seating crazy cousin Eddie who still talks about his crazy college partying days next to Uncle Joseph who is a pastor at a local church.

Did You Sustain Property Damage During the Kokomo Tornadoes?
You may be eligible for tax relief:

If you’ve suffered property damage as the result of the tornadoes last week, you may be eligible for some relief from property taxes. Those that sustained significant damage to structures such as homes, garages, businesses or personal property may be eligible for reassessment.

The taxpayer will need to complete petition Form 137 R. Click here to learn more about Form 137 R, CLICK HERE. and then provide any information that is helpful in determining whether or not a reassessment should be ordered.

What else will the taxpayer need to do to submit a completed petition?
Taxpayers should be given the opportunity to provide evidence for consideration. The evidence could include, but not be limited to: photographs, video, repair bills, insurance claims, news articles, appraisals, reports and other documentation from local, state and federal agencies.

Our clients have many hidden talents… but sometimes one stands out and actually goes viral. Meet our client, Indiana State Trooper Jon Cole (aka – the part of the women’s chorus, riding in the back right of the golf cart)

The 17 day Indiana State Fair had come to an end, signaling the unofficial end of summer for most Hoosiers.

It’s a sad, sad day. And when you can’t find the words…. you sing. And when you can’t sing… you lip sync.